BILLINGS, March 25, 2014 – Rocky Mountain College sends three equestrian riders to the national-level Intercollegiate Horse Show Association competition in the next month. More than 8,300 riders from 370 colleges and universities in the U.S. and Canada participate in IHSA competition.

Sophomores Sunni Hecht from Lewistown, Mont., and Rebekah Thomson from Santa Clarita, Calif., travel to the national Western riding competition May 3 and 4 in Harrisburg, Penn.

On March 30, the two students competed in Amarillo, Texas, at West Texas A&M at the IHSA Western riding semi-finals. The American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) high point rider in the region, Hecht qualified for the national show. Thomson took the Individual Intermediate Championship in Amarillo.

"Sunni and Rebekah both earned their way to nationals with hard work and persistence. I am proud to have these two students represent our team and college on such a high level," said coach Allison Grow.

Freshman Tharyn French competes in the English riding zone semi-finals April 5 and 6 at Stanford University in Palo Alto, Calif. French was regional champion in 2014 in the novice walk, trot, canter class, which qualified her to compete in Palo Alto.

"Tharyn has been a pleasure to coach this past year,” Grow said. “She strives to be the best she can be in every practice and show. Tharyn handles herself with poise and has great sense of sportsmanship. I am looking forward to watching her compete at zones."